From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 31 January 1781
To Samuel Huntington
Head Quarters New Windsor Jany 31st 81
Sir,
I have the honor to inclose Your Excellency the report of Major General Howe of his proceedings in suppressing the mutiny of the Jersey line, in which all his measures were taken with decision and propriety.1
Inclosed are also two other reports of Major General Parsons and Lt Col. Hull of an enterprise against Delancey’s corps at West Chester, in which with small loss on our side, the barracks of the corps and a large quantity of forage were destroyed—fifty two prisoners and a considerable number of horses and cattle brought off, and a bridge across Harlæm, under protection of one of the enemy’s redoubts, burnt. General Parsons’s arrangements were judicious and the conduct of the officers and men employed upon the occasion intitled to the highest praise. The position of the corps, two or three miles within some of the enemy’s redoubts required address and courage in the execution of the enterprise.2 I have the honor to be With perfect respect Yr Excellency’s Most Obedient & Most humble servant
Go: Washington
LS, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Congress read this letter on 5 Feb. and referred it in part to the committee of intelligence (, 19:114; see also Huntington’s first letter to GW, 9 Feb.).
2. Copies of the reports from Maj. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons to Maj. Gen. William Heath and from Lt. Col. William Hull to Parsons, both dated 25 Jan., are in DNA:PCC, item 152. Heath had sent both reports to GW on 28 Jan. (see n.1 to that document).